Exploring with books

It’s a big publishing time for non-fiction books as every publisher hopes for a win on the Christmas gift market. There are lots of sport books and celebrity autobiographies of course, but here are some of the non-fiction titles that have caught my attention this autumn.

Mary Beard S.P.Q.R: a history of Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome is a fascinating period of history and is a part of the history of this area too- do visit Castleford Forum Museum to find out more. This title from one of the world’s foremost classicists explores how Rome grew from an small village to a great Empire and looks at how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements.

Edmund De Waal The White Road: a pilgrimage of sorts

The Hare with amber eyes was a fascinating read. In this new book, Edmund De Waal tells the story of ‘white gold’, the porcelain he has worked with for over 45 years. It’s both an intimate memoir of his life as a potter and a quest that spans a thousand years of history and travels the globe from China to Versailles and Cornwall.

Stuart Maconie The Pie at Night: in search of the North at play

The North has always known how to get dressed up, take itself out n the town and have a good time. I enjoyed Stuart Maconie’s sharp and witty account of his travels in Pies and Prejudice and Adventures on the High Teas and I want to find out what he made of his visit to Wakefield!

Andrew Marr We British: the poetry of a people

On National Poetry Day, poetry took over Radio 4 for the day as poets told the story of Britain and its people through their poetry. I only managed to listen to a few short extracts so I must dip into this volume to find out the whole story.

Dominic Sandbrook The Great British Dream Factory: the strange story of our national imagination

In one area, Britain is still a superpower. The creations of British imaginations from the Sherlock Holmes tHarry Potter, from James Bond to Doctor Who are known and followed the world over. Author and TV presenter Dominic Sandbrook takes a look at the meaning and success of British popular culture.

Nigel Slater A year of good eating

Even if I never cook a single recipe from it, I will still enjoy this book from one of the best food writers around and put my feet up to revel in his loving descriptions of good food and good eating.

Paul Theroux Deep South: four seasons on back roads

Winter is the best time to snuggle down in the warm and read about somebody else’s travels. Paul Theroux has been to and written about all corners of the globe but this is the first time he has written about America. He explores the fascinations and contradictions of America’s Deep South and finds a profoundly foreign country n his own native land.

Which non-fiction books have you enjoyed or put on your Christmas list this year?